Emily Sky (1/2)

My name is Emily Xin.

But back then, I was known as Emily Sky.

Sky, it was a surname that I would later abandon in the future.

I was once a 'normal' ten-year-old schoolgirl who lived at home with her parents.

Thinking back, I recalled that fateful time once more, winding back to the buried past.

. . .

In this life of mine, my parents fought every second of the day—whenever the couple was together.

Always.

I couldn't live like this.

I felt like my head was about to explode. I buried my head in the pillows every night, hoping and praying for the screams to go away.

Until one night, I just couldn't stand it anymore. I was about to head to Mother and Father's room, drop on my knees, and beg them to stop. The screams tore down my mental health.

However, the scene that awaited me was much different than I had expected. It was the usual everyday events; Father was beating and kneeing Mother in rage, blaming her for his failures and mistakes.

But, this time around, Mother did not shed a single tear as I peeked through the crack of the bedroom door in the darkness. I could hear my heart trying to burst through my chest.

I should have stepped into the room, but I was frozen in place. I couldn't understand the reasoning behind it.

Lying on the floor, Mother suddenly madly laughed. It was scary; she looked like a maniac.

Even though Mother was miserable all the time, she never looked like this.

Before me was an unfamiliar, crazy person. Despite all this, I still couldn't barge in and speak up, my mouth felt dry and coarse.

Father raised his brow when he saw Mother laughing like a psychopath, but he did not pay her much attention. This husband was looking at his wife like she was the sole stain on his pure, bright life.

"Wait... w-what is that?" Father stuttered with fear in his eyes as he watched Mother stand up.

"Wife, I love you." In a hurry, Father suddenly knelt down, begging for mercy. "I don't know what got over me."

"You know that, right?" Father pleaded. "We're high school sweethearts who fought together for our place in the sun."

"I didn't mean to hurt you... Eliza." Father cried out. "I did it because I love you."

Father said it was out of love, but I, as a child, could see through his lies.

So how could Mother not?

Reaching this point, Father wholeheartedly hated and blamed Mother.

I couldn't understand Father's thoughts. For what reason did he begin to blame Mother for his own failures?

What type of 'loving' husband would beat their wife out of love?

"You... animal." Mother pulled out a 9mm revolver, her wrinkled red face soaked in tears. Staring at this husband of hers, she couldn't believe that life had led her here.

In the past, the two of them were so happy. What had gone so wrong?

When he had promised to marry her, she had felt like the entire world was given to her; she even cried tears of happiness. How wrong and naive she was.

In this empty corridor, I continued watching without making a sound. When I was younger, Mother once looked so beautiful and full of life. Handsome and cool, Father also used to treat me like the pearl he treasured in the palm of his hand.

I once looked up to him.

In the past, I even wanted to marry a man just like Father since he was the 'best'.

Now, Mother looked like an old lady about to enter her deathbed, while Father was an unkempt alcoholic with an awful odor.

The passage of time was ruthless.

Life could change in the blink of an eye.

Treasure every moment.

Unfortunately for Father, Mother was unforgiving when faced with his begging. With each step, she closed in on her husband, forcing him to the corner.

From start to finish, I watched everything happen. In the future, I would wonder if I even blinked during this time.

Mother's eyes remained cold as ice. However, if you looked close within, drops of glistening tears could be seen.

"It's not your fault." Mother sobbed. "It's mine for falling for your flowery lies."

Father's haggard face sunk down in defeat, staring at this wife of his who would end his life today. With one look, he knew it was hopeless to say anything more.

He was certain his wife would not change her mind. The two had spent a lifetime together, after all.

"I-" Father was about to speak, but his life was cut short.

"Bang."

Father's lifeless body slumped into the corner, his head falling down. It was at this time that I lost complete control of my body as I fell against the bedroom door.

"E-Emily?" Mother looked at me with a fearful expression, her eyes widened with overwhelming guilt as she moved the gun upward beneath her chin with two trembling hands.

"Dear..." Mother choked, seeing my little face. "Emily, my sweet baby... Mommy is so sorry."

I had no idea what expression I was making right now, but it likely didn't look good.

Despite all of the madness in my life, Mother still treated me well. I wanted to tell her that everything was all right, but the silly me did not say even a single word.

I didn't even open my mouth. Perhaps, I could have changed the future if I spoke up now.

"I just couldn't stand it anymore. More than the physical pain, Mommy's heart just hurt way too much to live like this. I felt like my heart was being ripped apart every day."

"Please don't continue hating Mommy in the future." Mother kowtowed with everything she had, sobbing like a new-born baby.

"Baby, please grow up and lead a happy life. Don't be like Mommy and Daddy."

"Bang." I watched Mother end her life with a single finger.

I looked at Mother's lifeless eyes that were still full of regret and guilt. I couldn't control my limbs; my body wouldn't listen to me. The emotions I was feeling...

More than anything, beyond all the misery and fear, I was angry.

Angry that I was left alone in this dark world.

Angry that Mother didn't take me with her.

Angry that I was too afraid to follow in her footsteps.

"How could you two just leave me like that..." The anger bubbled out. I finally regained control of my body.

I dropped to the cold floor. "If you're going to leave, at least bring the 'thing' you brought into this awful world in the first place."

In this bedroom that was once full of smiles years ago, then later filled with anger and fury, I sat alone under the dim light while staring at the corpses of my parents.

I should have called for help; however, life didn't follow logic. I, as a mere child, did not know what to do in this situation. I could do nothing but stare at Mother and Father until the sun rose.

It wasn't until the awful smell from the rotting corpses pervaded the entire neighborhood that help finally arrived due to a middle-aged neighbor's complaint call.

The middle-aged neighbor was unaware that Mother's and Father's corpses were the reason for the awful smell, and I didn't blame her.

When the police arrived, I looked like a downright mess. I was starving and thirsty, thin like a skeleton. I felt like I was on death's door, and the relief from death would come to me at any second.

Like that, I fainted, thinking it was all a nightmare.